Estimator

Job Title: Estimator Job Description
The Estimator will join a growing preconstruction team in St. Louis, MO and play a key role in developing detailed estimates for both self-perform and subcontracted construction work. This position focuses on evaluating labor, equipment, materials, production rates, quantities, subcontractor scopes, and overall project costs across commercial, industrial, civil, and self-perform projects. The role is ideal for someone with strong construction operations experience who understands construction means and methods and is ready to translate field knowledge into accurate, comprehensive estimates.
Responsibilities
- Develop complete estimates for self-perform and subcontracted construction work, including labor, equipment, materials, subcontractors, vendor pricing, and general conditions.
- Perform detailed quantity takeoffs for concrete, earthwork/sitework, civil, industrial, and commercial construction scopes using drawings, specifications, and technical documents.
- Evaluate and plan labor and equipment needs for self-perform crews, considering crew composition, productivity, and production rates.
- Analyze construction means and methods to understand how work will be built in the field and translate that understanding into realistic cost and schedule assumptions.
- Review and interpret construction plans, blueprints, specifications, scope packages, and technical drawings to ensure accurate estimating and scope coverage.
- Use Bluebeam Revu to review drawings, measure quantities, perform markups, and support takeoff and estimating activities.
- Build and maintain estimates in HCSS HeavyBid, including cost items related to labor, equipment, materials, crews, and bid pricing.
- Leverage AGTEK to perform earthwork and sitework takeoffs, including quantities, grading, and related civil work components.
- Identify scope gaps, potential project risks, and site conditions that could impact cost, schedule, or productivity, and communicate these to the team.
- Collaborate closely with field operations, project managers, project engineers, superintendents, subcontractors, vendors, and leadership to validate assumptions and refine estimates.
- Participate in preconstruction planning discussions to provide cost input and construction insights for commercial, industrial, civil, and special-project work.
- Support bid preparation for projects typically ranging from approximately $2M to $25M, with exposure to larger programs and portfolios.
- Maintain a detail-oriented approach while keeping sight of the overall project picture, ensuring estimates align with project goals and strategies.
- Contribute to continuous improvement of estimating processes, tools, and best practices within a small, collaborative preconstruction team.
- Conduct occasional site visits to better understand field conditions, construction approaches, and productivity factors that inform more accurate estimates.
Essential Skills
- Approximately 3+ years of construction experience preferred, ideally in roles such as estimating, project management, project engineering, superintendent, assistant superintendent, field operations, or civil/construction engineering.
- Strong understanding of self-perform construction, including how a contractor executes work with its own crews rather than relying solely on subcontractor bids.
- Practical experience or exposure to concrete, earthwork/sitework, civil construction, industrial, or commercial construction projects.
- Ability to read and interpret construction plans, blueprints, specifications, scope packages, and technical drawings.
- Demonstrated understanding of construction means and methods, including how work is sequenced and built in the field.
- Capability to think through crew composition, equipment selection, construction sequencing, site conditions, production rates, labor hours, and potential project risks.
- Aptitude for developing complete estimates, including quantity takeoffs, labor, equipment, materials, subcontractors, vendor pricing, and general conditions.
- Strong analytical and mathematical skills to support accurate cost development and quantity calculations.
- Proficiency or ability to quickly learn Bluebeam Revu for drawing review, quantity measurement, markups, and takeoffs.
- Comfort working with HCSS HeavyBid as an estimating platform to build and manage estimates for labor, equipment, materials, crews, and bid pricing.
- Ability to work with AGTEK or similar tools for earthwork and sitework takeoffs, including grading and quantity analysis.
- Effective communication skills to interact with field operations, project managers, subcontractors, vendors, and leadership.
- Detail-oriented mindset with the ability to maintain a clear understanding of the overall project picture and objectives.
- Strong work ethic, willingness to learn, and openness to developing advanced estimating skills under guidance.
- Ability to identify scope gaps and project risks and communicate them clearly to the estimating and project teams.
- Comfort working primarily in an office environment with occasional visits to project sites.
- Local to the St. Louis area strongly preferred, or willingness to relocate with a clear connection or reason for moving to St. Louis.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or a related field preferred; equivalent construction experience is also valued.
- Experience in heavy civil construction and self-perform work is beneficial.
- Prior experience in commercial, industrial, civil, or special-project construction environments is an advantage.
- Hands-on field experience in roles such as superintendent, assistant superintendent, or field operations is highly regarded.
- Experience working within a collaborative preconstruction or estimating team environment.
- Comfort interacting directly with leadership and ownership in a flat organizational structure.
- Ability to balance multiple estimates or bid opportunities while meeting deadlines.
- Adaptability to different project sizes, from small special projects to large-scale work.
- Positive attitude, strong work ethic, and high aptitude are valued more than having a perfectly traditional Estimator resume.
Work Environment
This role is based in St. Louis, MO and is primarily onsite in an office setting, working closely with a small estimating and preconstruction team of approximately five people. The environment is collaborative, with a flat organizational structure that provides regular access to leadership and ownership. Management supports flexibility but places a high value on teamwork and being physically present with colleagues. The position is mainly office-based, with occasional project and site visits to gain field insight and validate assumptions. You will work on a variety of projects, including commercial, industrial, civil, self-perform, and special-project work, with typical bids ranging from about $2M to $25M and exposure to programs that can reach $500M or more. The culture emphasizes attitude, construction knowledge, work ethic, and aptitude, and offers the potential for either direct placement or contract-to-hire arrangements depending on the candidate.
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of St. Louis, MO.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $85000.00 - $140000.00/yr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. COMPENSATION: Based on experience
Benefits include a full health insurance package (medical, dental, vision) for the employee and family with 100% company paid premiums, flexible PTO and paid holidays, annual discretionary bonus, and 3% 401k contribution.
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of St. Louis, MO.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Nov 12, 2026.
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in St. Louis,MO. About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without
regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,
sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected
by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or
adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,
please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the
city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants
with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a
condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law
shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,
including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications
and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you
acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.